AHL Announces New Division, Opponents for Penguins In

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - The American Hockey League announced its alignment for the 2017-18 season today reflecting changes to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins' division and opponents.

The Charlotte Checkers have been added to the Eastern Conference and will join the Penguins in the Atlantic Division. The AHL's eight-team Atlantic Division now includes the following teams:

Bridgeport Sound Tigers

Charlotte Checkers

Hartford Wolf Pack

Hershey Bears

Lehigh Valley Phantoms

Providence Bruins

Springfield Thunderbirds

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

Including the Checkers, the Penguins will play seven teams during this upcoming season that did not appear on the team's 2016-17 schedule: the Milwaukee Admirals, Rockford IceHogs, Grand Rapids Griffins, Laval Rocket, Belleville Senators and Binghamton Devils.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has never played a regular season game against Rockford, Laval or Belleville. Grand Rapids last visited Northeastern Pennsylvania during the 2008-09 season, and Milwaukee hasn't played a regular season game in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton since 2001-02. The Penguins last took on the Checkers at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza during the 2010-11 campaign. Binghamton is playing its first season with a new affiliation.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton season ticket packages for the 2017-18 season, including 22-game, 12-game and Flexbook plans, are available by contacting the Penguins directly at (570) 208-7367.